Even things that should’ve beenimpossible. Like the freaking demon lord claiming one of those spots.
“I’m happy Lord Onyx is one of us.” Rowan pulled me closer. “I may not have Reign’s ability to sense mana, but even I can feel his power. The six of us will be able to keep you safe, no matter what the future holds. Mercenaries. War.”
“War?”
“Specs said saints like you rise in times of great conflict,” he reminded me. Not that Ineededthe reminder. That detail had kept me up at night a lot recently. “Given Bremloc’s building tension with Haran, it’s only a matter of time before war is declared.”
His words soured in my gut. “I don’t like that story. Nope. Not at all.”
“Haran’s army is strong from what I’ve heard, so more pieces need to be carefully placed on the board before any move can be made against them,” Rowan said, clearly in an attempt to make me feel better. “Cedric has the throne but not full military support. And he won’t have that until he’s formally declared king. There’s also Voltas. Sawyer hasn’t yet married Lady Alina, so control of their naval fleet is out of his reach too.”
Okay. So itdidmake me feel better. Kind of.
A low rumble of thunder had me pushing my face against his neck. He cupped the back of my head. The longer he held me, the more my anxiety subsided. More rumbles sounded, colliding one into another.
Fragments of a dream I’d once had surged forward. One of a wailing thunderstorm and flashes of lightening in an angry sky. The air had been charged and unstable. Then, the heaviness of the storm had lifted, and I’d found myself standing in a field of red spider lilies. There had been a silky voice calling out to me through the sudden quiet left in the storm’s wake. A voice I now knew belonged to Lord Onyx.
Had my subconscious mind been trying to tell me, even back then, that he was one of my fated mates? What was the meaning behind the lilies?
I looked toward the book I’d reluctantly placed back on the shelf. It had a story about that cryptic red flower. The inscription on the inside cover made me believe it to be a gift from Onyx’s mother. He’d said he loved to read. Had he gotten that love from her?
The thought made me sad, but I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because, like me, he had lost his mom. How long ago had he lost her? The only thing I had of mine was her delicate features. Not even a single memory of her.
A nudge came to my calf, and I looked down to see Oreo. His glacier blue eyes held an alertness that still surprised me, like he was attuned to my every emotion.
“I’m okay,” I told him.
Woof.
“I promise.”
Oreo looked at Rowan. A second of unwavering eye contact passed between them, then another, before he jolted forward to playfully attack Rowan’s leg, then he darted toward the door.
“He’s had a nap, and now he’s ready to play,” I said, my heart brimming with affection for the ball of fluffy adorableness.
“Maybe we can convince him to hunt down that stinky rabbit.”
I laughed. Hard.
Rainy days weren’t all bad, I guess.
Chapter Seventeen
How to Woo a Demon Lord
“Oh yeah, baby. That’s it.” I glided my teeth across my bottom lip. “Crisp up for Daddy just like that.”
“Who are you speaking to?”
With a squeak tearing through my throat, I spun around on my heels and came face-to-face with Lord Onyx. Well, face to clavicle if we were being literal, since he had several inches of height on me.
“And who are you calling Daddy?” He stood near the kitchen counter, looking too hot for his own good in a red robe that fell open at the chest.
“I was talking to the pie.”
“The pie,” he repeated slowly.
“More of a cobbler really.” I motioned to the stone oven. “The even heat distribution of this baby makes the best crispy crust while keeping the center gooey and delicious. It also adds a smoky flavor to whatever you make, which will be amazing with apple, I think.”
